Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, a Long Island neurosurgeon whose name was invoked on the House floor by Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, responded Thursday to the congresswoman’s public suggestion that his campaign donations may have been linked to the convicted sex offender of the same name, as reported by The New York Post.

Epstein described what he considered a potential form of revenge after the remarks drew attention to him in connection with the deceased financier.

“I think that I should contribute money to Jasmine Crockett and then let everybody know that she also took money from Jeffrey Epstein,” he told The Post.

Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY

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His comments followed Crockett’s remarks earlier in the week, when she said she was “gonna expose it all” after identifying “somebody named Jeffrey Epstein” listed as a donor to the campaign of former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York.

Crockett’s comments were directed at two donations made by the Manhasset doctor in April and August of 2020. Zeldin, who is now head of the Environmental Protection Agency, received $1,000 in contributions from Epstein months after the death of the disgraced financier in a Manhattan jail cell.

Crockett implied during her remarks that the donor may have been tied to the notorious figure, despite the documented timeline showing the donations occurred after the financier’s death.

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Epstein said Thursday that the issue had not been raised in a serious way until Crockett mentioned it on the House floor. “Until she said something, it was never an issue,” he said when asked whether he had been mistaken for the sex criminal before.

He added that when he introduces himself, he sometimes receives a reaction from people unfamiliar with his background. “I say my name and sometimes people will give me a look, or whatever,” he said.

When addressing those reactions, Epstein said he typically responds in a way that avoids confrontation. “I always look at them and say, ‘I don’t understand,’ and I make it like I’m dumb,” he said.

Aug 19, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. The DNC program will feature President Joe Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during Monday’s ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY

He noted that he has no control over sharing a name with a well-known criminal. “Listen, that’s my name,” he said. He added that having a name associated with a widely known criminal figure is not unique.

“If my name was Jeffrey Dahmer when that whole thing came out – do you think that would be a problem?” he said. “Listen, anytime a doppelganger is tied to a less-than-desirable, it’s never a good situation.”

Epstein said he is largely unaffected by the coincidence, stating, “But it doesn’t matter to me. I could[n’t] care less.”

He noted that the only time it becomes an issue is when the attention results in inquiries connected to the name. He said what bothers him most is “people like you calling me to ask me these questions.”

He clarified the point, adding, “Don’t take that the wrong way, but you couldn’t understand that – otherwise it doesn’t bother me in the least.”

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